NHL Midseason Predictions - Part II

So yesterday we had the final rankings of the East…now its time to go to the wild wild west! So I mentioned yesterday I think it’s the East’s cup to win…and although the West has some fantastic teams…I think the Eastern Conference is so strong this year. However the one thing the West has on most teams is seriously good goaltending.

Here we go…in projected order of finish:

1) DETROIT –
They will continue their ownership of the Central division and will roll to the Western Conference title. This team is too solid in too many areas for anyone in the West to catch them…even the equally balanced Stars pale in comparison. Its nice to see Manny Legace finally prove what people have thought for some time, that he can be a good #1 goalie in the NHL.

2) DALLAS –
They will make things interesting for Detroit for a while, but Marty Turco’s streakiness (he’s either fantastic or just good) will slow them down just enough to keep out of first in the west. The big questions on this team are …can Jokinen keep them rolling in the shootouts and will Guerin ever get going?

3) CALGARY –
In the toughest call to make I will give this one to Calgary for 3 major reasons: Mikka Kipprusoff, solid defending Leopold, Regehr, and Phaneuf make a core that will be comparable to Ottawa in a couple of years, and the fact that Iginla gets hot when the heat is put on him. Expect the Flames to be clutch down the stretch and go into the playoffs hotter than any team in the league.

4) NASHVILLE –
I can’t see Nashville getting any lower than this despite the fact that the teams in the Northwest are clearly better balanced and stronger. However, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Colorado all have weaknesses on the back-end and all have to play each other a heck of a lot. Nashville beats up on the Blues, Blackhawks, and Blue Jackets until they are black and blue to secure 4th spot in the west.

5) COLORADO –
So many reasons to put Vancouver or Edmonton here but there are too many issues concerning both those teams to put them ahead of Colorado. The Avalance have too much firepower and good goaltending in behind to let the Oilers and Canucks pass them. Expect Sakic and Hejduk to have big second halves.

6) VANCOUVER –
The Sedin twins are having breakout years, something that was expected much earlier on in their careers, but Vancouver will gladly take it considering Bertuzzi, Naslund and Morrison’s diminished production this year. However, the real Canuck problems are on defense where injuries to Salo, Jovanovski, and Ohlund are going to keep them from winning the division.

7) LOS ANGELES –
How can a team be so bad on the Penalty Kill and Power Play and still be playing well enough to make the playoffs? They are scoring plenty even-strength and will have to keep that up in order to last in the playoffs. However, I think they started hot enough and have a good enough balance to maintain a playoff spot. An intriguing thought is that they are built for the playoffs? Especially if this is when the whistles might get put away in the new NHL.

8) EDMONTON –
This team has a balanced attack, solid defense, and a good coach…their only area of concern is in net where they are the one team the most desperately in need of an upgrade. If the Oilers pull off the trade for Curtis Joseph, Dwayne Roloson, Mika Noronen, Martin Biron or maybe even Kevin Weekes… expect this team to make the playoffs with ease. Beyond that if they get good goaltending I would hate to be the number 1 seed in the West!

9) SAN JOSE –
The darling of NHL teams coming into the season, everyone thought they would be well ahead of Nashville, Detroit, Colorado, and Dallas coming into this season but the team has struggled. They will finish the season strong because Nabokov appears to have found his game but the slow start will doom them to wait until 2006-07 when they should contend again.

10) ANAHEIM –
Another team with high expectations heading into the season are simply another team who is likely to have to wait a year maybe two before it all comes together. Despite the resurgence of Teemu Selanne this team is still a year away. The Mighty Ducks haven’t lived up their name…Ironically expect next years Ducks (sans the Mighty) to be a mighty force in the west.

11) MINNESOTA –
The team in the Northwest that could easily have been in the top 8 if they had played in any other division will miss the playoffs this year. However, expect the team to make few changes and come back next year an improved squad. They will need bigger seasons in the future from Marian Gaborik who seems to have regressed in recent seasons.

12) COLUMBUS –
One of the hottest teams recently will continue to play a more competitive brand of hockey, Nash still needs a few more pieces around him for this team to really step up to the next level. Expect Columbus to narrowly miss the playoffs next year but continue to serve notice that they are a good young team that is improving fast.

13) PHOENIX –
I fully expect Curtis Joseph to be gone by March 9th and this team will struggle to put the wins together they did when he was backstopping them. The team has some good pieces but really needs their leader Shane Doan to step up. Doan is definitely an underrated strong two way player who needs some more help to really reach the next level in his game. Expect Gretzky to take him there.

14) CHICAGO –
They will narrowly avoid the Western cellar, but I expect the face of this team to change drastically by next year…Can anyone name the Hawks best players…that’s because they are woefully short on talent. This team is one that’s going to be cellar-dwelling for some time.

15) ST.LOUIS –
The consecutive playoffs streak ends in historic fashion…as they finish with the worst record in the West. The trade of major assets come the deadline will kill their current surge and place them firmly in last place. This is another team desperately in need of talent that at least seems to have found something in the form of Curtis Sanford in goal.

NHL Midseason Predictions

Just a few games post-Olympic break... It is time to make the assessment and projection for each of the teams going forward.

Starting with the East (west to come tomorrow), where the reigning Stanley Cup champions are and the next Stanley Cup winners are going to come from….that’s right you heard it hear first.

In projected order of finish!!

1) CAROLINA –
The surprise of the season to some, but considering how they finished the last NHL season not that big a surprise in reality. They will take advantage of their relatively weak division and roll to the conference championship, and quite likely the President’s Cup as well.

2) NY RANGERS –
Surprised, well heck we all are, if this does not solidify Tom Renney as an amazing coach, and Coach of the Year…well justice will not have been served. Expect one trade out of these guys as they improve their blueline, although with Lundqvist in nets its not all that necessary. Oh and that fellow Jagr pencil him in for the Art Ross and Hart as well.

3) BUFFALO –
Another shocker in the new NHL, but Buffalo has always been a dangerous team under coach Lindy Ruff and as long as he has had goaltending that won’t change. No major stars here but no deficiencies either. Sabres win the battle of attrition in the loaded Northeast by having depth in goal, something all the other teams wish they had. Expect Biron to get them some additional help on defense in the form of a trade, likely partner Edmonton.

4) PHILADELPHIA –
A toss-up here…it could be Ottawa or the Flyers, but the Flyers have solid goaltending right now and Ottawa simply is missing that until Hasek is back. The Olympic break helped heal some of those Flyer wounded, most notably Forsberg who will carry this team to home-ice advantage in the first round.

5) OTTAWA –
Like I said a toss-up if Hasek comes back early you can insert Buffalo in here, knock the Rangers down a peg…because goaltending will make or break this division. The loss of Havlat kills the potency of their offense they need a 2nd line to take the pressure of that monster Alfredsson powered 1st line.

6) NEW JERSEY –
Any hotter team than the Devils right now, continuing with our theme….Brodeur is the motor of this team and he will keep them moving. The loss of Elias hurts but Lamoriello is too smart and Brodeur too good, and the chasers too weak to keep them out of this spot.

7) MONTREAL –
Huet locks up #1 status in Montreal for the rest of the season including playoffs and this team of streaky players will rise again. Finally trusting their goaltending the offense will start to motor. Anyone who saw Koivu and Kovalev in Torino knows these guys can play. Expect a strong second half from Markov, Koivu and Kovalev to help them lock up 7th seed and date with the surprising Rangers, for one of those Original Six matchups hockey die-hards love.

8) TAMPA BAY –
Their goaltending or lack thereof has been their problem all season…how does John Grahame make the U.S. Olympic team over Ryan Miller?? Lacking the goaltending and some of the defensive pieces has kept this team from being consistent, but the defending champions have too much pride to be gone come game 82. They sneak in…leaving in the cold…..

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9) ATLANTA –
I’m glad to hear that Waddell’s job is safe should he not live up to his prediction…because he won’t. The vaunted offense of the Thrashers is let down by its defense despite the heroic efforts of Kari Lehtonen. Although let me warn you should this team find some help on the blueline by the deadline, perhaps in the form of Brendan Witt, expect them to switch places with Tampa Bay.

10) BOSTON –
Can’t win against anyone in their division but Ottawa it seems. The failure to do so is going to keep them out of the race. Again their shaky goaltending that has finally shored up due to Tim Thomas will fail them again in the stretch run, and although a more balanced team minus Big Joe…their early season slump will keep them out of the playoffs.

11) TORONTO –
Can you smell burning pants…I can those of Pat Quinn and John Ferguson who are firmly on the hot seat.Their gamble on a bunch of aging stars has not paid off, and their defensive weaknesses have been repeatedly exposed. Expect a less than glorious end of career for Belfour as he struggles down the stretch and the Leafs fall out of the playoffs…in another division they might have a chance but the powerful Northeast makes their demise certain.

12) FLORIDA –
A team with high expectations coming into the season learned that Leaf’s rejects Roberts and Nieuwendyk are not going to help you score. When they finish second last in the league in goals…Roberto Luongo will try to jump ship given the lack of success in his years in Florida. Likely destination : Vancouver in a mega-offseason trade involving Cloutier and Jovanoski or Bertuzzi.

13) NY ISLANDERS –
This team has been going nowhere for years a fate assured by the wheeling and dealings of Mad Mike Milbury. Shipping away talents like Bertuzzi, Chara, McCabe, Ninimaa, and many others will cost a team. Expect that ship to be righted as Brent Sutter gets swayed to come to Uniondale and is given full control over the hockey operations.

14) WASHINGTON –
Most excitement in the coming months is going to come from certain Calder winner Ovechkin and the trades of Brendan Witt and Jeff Friesen. But there is hope for the future as Washington stockpiles draft choices and somehow wins the lottery over the more needy Blues.

15) PITTSBURGH –
Nothing has gone right here all season and it will continue that way as once certain Calder candidate Crosby finishes a distant 3rd in the Calder voting losing out to the more flashy Ovechkin and the more valuable Lundqvist. Watch out for the Pens in two years as Malkin, Fleury and Sid come together to create one the best young teams in hockey.

Tomorrow the breakdown of the Western Conference….

Click here for current NHL standings : http://www.nhl.com/standings/20052006/conference_standings.html

Torino 2006 Summary

As mentioned in my previous entry there are any number of highs and lows and any Olympic Event…and it was exciting to see that despite a number of lows…Most notably Canadian hockey supremacy being much less than supreme…these Olympics remained a resounding success…Particularly for us North Americans!

Here is a salute to some of the most impressive moments from the 2006 games in Torino. My personal top 15 (in no particular order):

1. The Norwegian coach giving a new pole to Sara Renner shortly after her pole broke…and the subsequent Canadian response including the 8,000+ cans of maple syrup to be sent to the ENTIRE Norwegian Olympic delegation.

2. Shani Davis winning the feud against the outspoken and annoying Chad Hedrick, who declared himself capable of winning 5 gold and coming home with 1. Although their selfish feud was pretty entertaining.

3. Enrico Fabris for showing both of them up and winning the gold and as a side note winning more Gold than the brash and undiplomatic Hedrick.

4. The underdog, as usual coming up big, Switzerland, Latvia, and Italy in Men’s hockey. Tanja Frieden the Swiss Miss of snowboard-cross, by staying on her feet to advance through her semi, and win the final when all the favourites fell (including the now infamous move of one Miss. Jacobelis). Chandra Crawford, an unknown prior to the Olympics, not even ranked within the top 30 of the world last year, winning gold.

5. The industrious Finnish hockey team…who fell one broken stick and one oversized blocker from winning hockey gold. Coming together and playing fantastic hockey despite 7 NHL regulars backing out. It’s a shame that might be the last time we might see Saku and Teemu together…the Gretzky and Lemieux of Finnish hockey.

6. Japanese figure skater Shizuka Arakawa for staying on her feet and winning gold...in an event where the winner has often been the person who falls the least…it was refreshing to see a fantastic performance win, than an adequate performance outlast mediocre ones. It’s a shame Sasha Cohen and Irina Slutskaya, couldn’t come through in what could’ve been the SHOWDOWN of the Olympics.

7. We have a new Mr. Bean…yes Jeff Bean…you’re the winner of Torino’s funniest videos, only because you avoided impalement and major injury, but the video of you going up to practice your aerials jump and losing both skis…is one worthy of Gold in this category, narrowly edging out Jacobellis’s gaffe.

8. Short-Track speedskating….both relay finals…were amazing to watch…particularly the Men’s where five teams (there are usually 4) and 20 skaters (usually 16) on the ice sped around the rink in about 10-12 seconds and no one fell once! Best spectator sport outside of Snowboard Cross and Ice hockey.

9. Goofy foot, fakeys, 1080s, etc…Snowboard events have clearly been the fountain of youth on what can be a stodgy Olympics…Snowboarding culture is one of fun and excitement and they clearly made for some of the most exciting moments in the games!

10. Gold medal winners Clara Hughes, Cindy Klassen, and Chandra Crawford for showing how to celebrate receiving a gold medal in style…You have to sing your national anthem and smile like you’ve been botoxed into that position.

11. Candid after the results interviews, whether it was Jeff Buttle, utter joy at making a huge comeback and winning bronze, the Canadian men’s curling team interview, where you saw their true friendship, Chandra Crawford sounding like she was going to burst, Cindy Klassen, Kristina Groves, and Clara Hughes, all tired like hell but still remembering to thank all their supporters…you gotta love the excitement of those few moments after.

12. Nighttime events, which provided the most dramatic settings in Olympic memory….whether it was bobsled speeding under the lights, or mogul skiers flipping through the air with the stars as a backdrop (BTW any more spectacular jumps than those offered up by Alexandre Bilodeau…if only he had landed them perfectly), or the aerialists flying through the air in reckless abandon (they all kept their skis on). Nighttime events were awesome…here’s hoping Vancouver takes its cue from this.

13. Speaking of Vancouver 2010…what better Olympic moment than Vancouver Mayor, , accepting the Olympic flag in his wheelchair and spinning around to make it wave. If ever there was a triumph over disability that’s it…sorry Rick Hansen and Chantal Petitclerc…Sam Sullivan is now our favourite four-wheeled Canadian.

14. Despite fears on underwhelming fan support and an unenthusiastic city of Torino, the fans were raucous and the games were as well run as any in recent memory. Bravo Torino that was one awesome spectacle you put together for two weeks.

15. The opening and closing ceremonies…in particular the closing ceremonies…which were entertaining, unique, and fun…And yes the closing ceremonies were wonderful despite the presence of Ricky Martin, who hails from noted Winter Olympic powerhouse, Puerto Rico.

All in all the winter Olympics were fun for the average sports fan and for the huge fans like myself, well it was the closest thing to heaven until the next major sports event, the World Cup in Germany….luckily my withdrawal won’t be too long-lasting.